• 4,000 residents unhappy with Council's mast decisions

• Council losing out on £ thousands of revenue

Tobias Ellwood MP addressed April’s full Council meeting in the Town Hall, outlining some of the problems and solutions surrounding recent planning applications for mobile phone masts.

Tobias underlined the concerns expressed by over 4,000 residents who have signed petitions calling for:

• A more open and transparent process
• Wider consultation
• Greater use of the Council website to keep residents informed
• Assistance in securing new locations for respective masts.

Progress
Progress on several mast campaigns has been made, after Tobias and residents met with operators. He called on the Council to support the work that local residents have done in seeking to secure alternative sites for the Fisherman's Walk, Wessex Way and Wimbourne Road locations.

Council Powers
Tobias informed the Council about the revised ODPM Code of Best Practice guidelines emphasising the powers local authorities have on all mast and antennae development, even those classed as ‘permitted development’. He also covered this material issue of health (which should be a consideretion in Moordown mast application.

Local Strategy
Tobias called for a local strategy to regain control of mast applications from the operators which would allow greater say by residents and a more commercial approach by the Council in financially benefiting from the mast locations. A typical mast can net £3,000 to £10,000 for the land owner, depending on the location. Complex Council policy regarding masts effectively rules out the use of council land forgoing a potentially up to £500,000 a year. (Councillors did make clear that 2 masts due provide around £14,000 a year for the Council but this is a drop in the ocean compared to what could be made).

New Technology
Tobias also took the opportunity to speak about the possibilities of embracing new technology for example WiFi and Wimax, wireless internet connection technology. It will be soon common practice to remotely link mobile phones into the wireless network currently available for laptops. Bournemouth’s reputation as a regional business and financial centre would reciveve a welcome boost if we were to follow the City of London in introducing such a network here.

Turning a challenge into an opportunity
As masts are a necessity Tobias concluded by urging the Council to be creative, ensuring antennea are placed for example, inside flag poles which were themselves a feature for Bournemouth, flying the coveted blue flag for our clean beeches.

To read Tobias' speech in full click here.